Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancers are composed of a group of cancers that include mouth, nose, throat, sinuses (cavities that sit behind the forehead and cheeks), larynx or voice box and salivary glands.

About 75 % of these cancers occur as a result of alcohol or tobacco consumption. Other risk factors include the chewing of Betel leafs (mostly in Asia), human papilloma virus (HPV), radiation therapy and Epstein-Barr virus. Globally, they affect more than 5.5 million people (mouth 2.4 million, throat 1.7 million, larynx 1.4 million), with 370,000 people dying every year. (National Cancer Institute)

Head and neck cancers represent the 7th most common cause of cancer and the 9th most frequent cause of death due to cancer. The age of incidence is between 55 and 65 years old, and males are affected twice as often as females. Survival after five years is between 50% and 60%[1].

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